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matter for tears and not yet for song。
It was Frodo who first put something of his sorrow into halting words。 Hewas seldom moved to make song or rhyme； even in Rivendell he had listened andhad not sung himself； though his memory was stored with many things thatothers had made before him。 But now as he sat beside the fountain in Lórien
and heard about him the voices of the Elves； his thought took shape in a songthat seemed fair to him； yet when he tried to repeat it to Sam only snatchesremained； faded as a handful of withered leaves。
When evening in the Shire was grey
his footsteps on the Hill were heard；
before the dawn he went away
on journey long without a word。
From Wilderland to Western shore；
from northern waste to southern hill；
through dragon…lair and hidden door
and darkling woods he walked at will。
With Dwarf and Hobbit； Elves and Men；
with mortal and immortal folk；
with bird on bough and beast in den；
in their own secret tongues he spoke。
A deadly sword； a healing hand；
a back that bent beneath its load；
a trumpet…voice； a burning brand；
a weary pilgrim on the road。
A lord of wisdom throned he sat；
swift in anger； quick to laugh；
an old man in a battered hat
who leaned upon a thorny staff。
He stood upon the bridge alone
and Fire and Shadow both defied；
his staff was broken on the stone；
in Khazad…d。m his wisdom died。
‘Why； you'll be beating Mr。 Bilbo next！ ' said Sam。
'No； I am afraid not；' said Frodo。 'But that is the best I can do yet。'
'Well； Mr。 Frodo； if you do have another go； I hope you'll say a wordabout his fireworks；' said Sam。 ‘Something like this：
The finest rockets ever seen：
they burst in stars of blue and green；
or after thunder golden showers
came falling like a rain of flowers。
Though that doesn't do them justice by a long road。'
‘No； I'll leave that to you； Sam。 Or perhaps to Bilbo。 But…well。 I can'ttalk of it any more。 I can't bear to think of bringing the news to him。'
One evening Frodo and Sam were walking together in the cool twilight。
Both of them felt restless again。 On Frodo suddenly the shadow of parting hadfallen： he knew somehow that the time was very near when he must leaveLothlórien。
‘What do you think of Elves now； Sam？ ' he said。 ‘I asked you the samequestion once before…it seems a very long while ago； but you have seen more ofthem since then。'
'I have indeed！ ' said Sam。 'And I reckon there's Elves and Elves。
They're all elvish enough； but they're not all the same。 Now these folk aren'twanderers or homeless； and seem a bit nearer to the likes of us： they seem tobelong here； more even than Hobbits do in the Shire。 Whether they've made theland； or the land's made them； it's hard to say； if you take my meaning。 It'swonderfully quiet here。 Nothing seems to be going on； and nobody seems to wantit to。 If there's any magic about； it's right down deep； where I can't lay myhands on it； in a manner of speaking。'
'You can see and feel it everywhere；' said Frodo。
'Well；' said Sam； 'you can't see nobody working it。 No fireworks likepoor Gandalf used to show。 I wonder we don't see nothing of the Lord and Ladyin all these days。 I fancy now that _she_ could do some wonderful things； ifshe had a mind。 I'd dearly love to see some Elf…magic； Mr。 Frodo！ '
'I wouldn't；' said Frodo。 ‘I am content。 And I don't miss Gandalf'sfireworks； but his bushy eyebrows； and his quick temper； and his voice。'
‘You're right；' said Sam。 ‘And don't think I'm finding fault。 I've oftenwanted to see a bit of magic like what it tells of in old tales； but I'venever heard of a better land than this。 It's like being at home and on aholiday at the same time； if you understand me。 I don't want to leave。 All thesame； I'm beginning to feel that if we've got to go on； then we'd best get itover。
'_It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish_； as myold gaffer used to say。 And I don't reckon that these folk can do much more tohelp us； magic or no。 It's when we leave this land that we shall miss Gandalfworse； I'm thinking。'
'I am afraid that's only too true； Sam；' said Frodo。 ‘Yet I hope verymuch that before we leave we shall see the Lady of the Elves again。'
Even as he spoke； they saw； as if she came in answer to their words； theLady Galadriel approaching。 Tall and white and fair she walked beneath thetrees。 She spoke no word； but beckoned to them。
Turning aside； she led them toward the southern slopes of the hill ofCaras Galadhon； and passing through a high green hedge they came into anenclosed garden。 No trees grew there； and it lay open to the sky。 The evening
star had risen and was shining with white fire above the western woods。 Down along flight of steps the Lady went into a deep green hollow； through which ranmurmuring the silver stream that issued from the fountain on the hill。 At thebottom； upon a low pedestal carved like a branching tree； stood a basin ofsilver。 wide and shallow； and beside it stood a silver ewer。
With water from the stream Galadriel filled the basin to the brim； andbreathed on it； and when the water was still again she spoke。 ‘Here is theMirror of Galadriel；' she said。 'I have brought you here so that you may lookin it； if you will。'
The air was very still； and the dell was dark； and the Elf…lady besidehim was tall and pale。 'What shall we look for； and what shall we see？ ' askedFrodo； filled with awe。
‘Many things I can mand the Mirror to reveal；' she answered； ‘and tosome I can show what they desire to see。 But the Mirror will also show thingsunbidden； and those are often stranger and more profitable than things whichwe wish to behold。 What you will see； if you leave the Mirror free to work； Icannot tell。 For it shows things that were； and things that are； things thatyet may be。 But which it is that he sees； even the wisest cannot always tell。
Do you wish to look？ '
Frodo did not answer。
‘And you？ ' she said； turning to Sam。 'For this is what your folk wouldcall magic。 I believe； though I do not understand clearly what they mean； andthey seem also to use the same word of the deceits of the Enemy。 But this； ifyou will； is the magic of Galadriel。 Did you not s